Where I Live

Skateboarding is a dynamic sport that has been evolving for many years. Skatelog.com traces the history of skateboarding to the 1950’s as an organic outgrowth of the surfer culture that was in full swing. Skateboarding is represented in the X-Games and other exhibitions and competitions both nationally and internationally. The sport has had a direct influence on not only the athletic work but pop culture as well. It is easy to spot this influence in fashion, music, and art. So widespread is the sport of skateboarding that you can easily find skaters in cities and towns of every size throughout the world. The growth of the sport has naturally encouraged websites and bloggers who tirelessly promote it.

Fountain City , a small but historic and distinct neighborhood in Knoxville, Tennessee has recognized the need for a constructive outlet for skaters from its community and neighboring communities. The initiative was launched with a neighborhood meeting in March of 2007. By August of 2007 the Knoxville City Council gave its unanimous approval for the creation of the skate park. Since that time, many in the community have been trying to raise enough funds to construct the Fountain City Skate Plaza. As of this writing (according to the Fountain City Skate Plaza website ) approximately $103,400 of the necessary $130,000 for the park’s construction have been raised. If you would like to donate to the skate park as an individual or corporate sponsor, click HERE for more information.

As this sport continues to grow in popularity, so does the need to have safe and legal venues for it. Knoxville is fortunate to have the Knoxville Skate Park located in Tyson Park, very near the University of Tennessee. The addition of the Fountain City Skate Plaza will provide such an outlet for the residents of North Knoxville and surrounding communities. Below is a promotional montage compiled by supporters of the park and skateboarding.

I find it funny that since moving to Knoxville, a ton of people always ask me how the Vols are doing. I hardly ever get asked about the Tennessee Smokies or the Knoxville Ice Bears. Now neither of these teams are of the big league variety, but nonetheless, these are legit professional teams. The Smokies are the Double A affiliate team of the Chicago Cubs. As for the Ice Bears, they are starting their 6th season here in Knoxville.

For those of you that do not know about the Knoxville Ice Bears, they play in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). This is minor league hockey, but it is still the Pros. What this gives Knoxville is sports options year around . So, if you have not had a chance to get out and see the Ice Bears play, get your tickets today. And what better venue to see the game in than the James White Civic Coliseum.

Long time University of Tennessee Volunteers head football coach Phillip Fulmer is under fire as we speak. There have been many questions as to whether or not it is time for that type of talk. From where I sit, it is past due. The last thing that you want to see from a great coach is to taint his legacy. The same issues have surfaced in Florida with head coach Bobby Bowden of the Florida State University Seminoles.

It becomes a matter that these coaches can not win with these programs anymore. Well, at least not to the acceptable levels of the programs they each head up. It would be nice to see Phillip and Bobby both bow out gracefully, but it does not look like either plan on doing that.

For Fulmer, this year started in a downward spiral as the Vols went west to face the UCLA Bruins. Once beat by them, everyone rationalized that UCLA was a good team and just got the better of Fulmer’s team. After taking a week off to lick their wounds, the Vols opened at home with UAB and proceed to put a butt whipping on those Alabama boys from Birmingham. Well, what no one seemed to look at was they were playing a team that had yet to win a game playing in a significantly weaker conference. Then, as if pouring salt in an open wound, The Florida Gators marched into Neyland Stadium and their special teams whipped the Vols silly.

This week, the Vols pack it up and head to Auburn to meet the 3-1 Tigers. Now the Tigers played LSU tough, but for me, that does not say too much when Mississippi State takes you to the wire with a 3-2 score. This game will tell me whether Fulmer stays for another week or goes. The question will be, can the University pull the trigger.

This year’s high school football programs in Tennessee have had some issues to say the least. Most of the problems have been caused by a shortage of money to fund programs. The extra curricular programs are typically the first to get cut or significantly reduced. One school that is not allowing any of the negative press to step in their way is Knoxville Catholic.

The Knoxville Catholic Fighting Irish will be suiting up once again on Friday the 26th. They will travel to Heywood Stadium to take on the Baylor Red Raiders. This will not be any ordinary trip for this team though. This win will ensure that the Fighting Irish will have a winning season. At this point the team is 5-0 with 5 games left to go in the regular season.

As it stands today, all of the Fighting Irish’s games have been blowouts. Tomorrow night’s game will be the test not for power but for stamina. This will be the game that will tell if this team has enough juice in them to take the season 10-0 and walk into the state playoffs undefeated. Time will tell if the kids have it in them. If one was to ask the opponents that they have laid to waste, I think that their answer would have to be yes.

There has been a lot of news about all the volatility with the global economy. You have the Europeans and Japanese injecting huge amounts of liquidity into their heavily traded money markets to help shore up confidence. We have seen enormous bailout of some Wall Street titans. It seems that the US government is merely reacting to the situation as it is now. What about a little proactive intervention before things reach this point? What about oversight and regulation?

I know that a very popular position for the past 25 years has been a move towards deregulation. My question is, if we remove regulation and oversight, then who is minding the store? It seems that many in government believe that the free market can self regulate. In my opinion, this cannot be further from the truth. Everyone from the individual to the largest of corporations are looking out for their best interest. In the case of unregulated companies, this means that they are free to do what they will to reap the greatest profits. The current situation is a direct result of convoluted and unrestrained corporations doing what they are designed to do, make a profit. Their immediate goal is not restrained by the possible future consequences.

Many believe that the American consumer has the power to influence the actions of these corporations by witholding the powerful consumer spending power. This has definitely been something the American public has viewed as an “ace in the hole” or the ultimate check on corporate actions on everything from environmental policy to economic policy. Voting and spending are really the only two tools Americans have in influencing corporate policy. I think these bailouts  represent a weakening of the consumer spending power. It is akin to giving free reign to companies to do what they like without worrying about how consumer spending reacts.

Now the government is asking for $700 billion with no strings nor conditions to bailout the remaining titans? Whose interests do these bailouts really protect? There will be NO direct benefit to Americans. The “straw man” or “red herring” of preventing a recession is a tragic farce. Government reports and President Bush himself concurred that we were already in a recession earlier this year. Bernake and Paulson are arguing for the $700 billion for the corporations that have already made billions during the boom. Some of these corporations might have done well not to have given out millions in bonuses to bloated CEOs and board members and instead reinvested it to assure their own financial well being. Maybe they could have kept the servicing rights on thousands of bad mortgage loans to help them keep a strong position. There is no need for corporate America to worry about losing money due to foreclosures, if this latest bailout goes through, the taxpayers will be picking up the check again.

Right now it is important that you let your voice be heard on this issue. Letters may be too slow, but I encourage you to e-mail your members of Congress and the Senate and let your voice be heard. Each icon below is linked to their respective homepages where your elected officials’ e-mails and phone numbers can be found.

Once you have made your voice heard on this immediate issue, do something to make your voice heard in the future before it gets this dire. Register to vote! If you are an eligible American voter and you do not exercise your right and responsibility you are taking away your own power. Many states require you register at least 30 days prior to an election so time is growing very short. You can click HERE to download the voter registration form; it will be customized for the state you live in and provide the address to mail it to.

Knoxville is home to several different entertainment venues. These range in size from the intimate, but classically designed Tennessee Theatre to the enormous Neyland Stadium , home of the University of Tennessee Volunteers football team . One of those venues is the Thompson-Boling Arena.

Thompson-Boling Arena was opened for the 1987-1988 college basketball season. The arena is home to both the men’s and women’s University of Tennessee basketball teams. Second only to Syracuse’s Carrier Dome in terms of seating capacity, the Thompson-Boling Arena can seat 24,535 people.

This multi purpose venue has set attendance records in recent years for many basketball events including the NBA , WNBA ,Vols , Lady Vols , and NCAA games and tournaments. In addition to sporting events, Thompson-Boling Arena has hosted some of the world’s premier musical acts including Luciano Pavarotti , Eric Clapton , Norah Jones , and Hank Williams, Jr .

In the proud tradition that has been the mainstay of this wonderful Knoxville entertainment venue, Thompson-Boling Arena will  play host to the musical stylings of international sensation, Michael Buble on October 5th,2008. Click HERE for ticket info! On November 6th, the University of Tennessee Lady Vols  will kick off their 2008 season with an exhibition game against Carson-Newman College  Click HERE for the 2008 Lady Vols schedule. Knoxville is proud to have Thompson-Boling Arena among its many great entertainment venues.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women. 2/3 of the women with breast cancer are over fifty while the majority of the others are between 39 and 49. Men are also susceptible to breast cancer and although men make up less than one half of one percent of all cases, men should be aware of the risks. While there has been a lot of research and progress in the detection, treatment, and survival rates of those diagnosed with breast cancer, the numbers are still telling. Seven out of ten women with breast cancer will survive more than five years after initial diagnosis, and half will survive more than 10 years. While this represents progress and hope, the mission of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure is based on a promise to end breast cancer worldwide. You can read about the latest in diagnoses , treatment , risk factors & prevention , and early detection & screening by clicking any of these hyper linked topics.

Charity Navigator has given the Susan G. Komen for the Cure a 4 Star Rating! Click HERE to see the complete assessment!

On October 11th, the Knoxville affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure will host the local Race for the Cure® event. More than 12,000 participants are expected to fill World’s Fair Park in an event to raise awareness, money, and hope. There is still time to register as an individual or a team to participate in the walk. If you cannot participate as a walker but would still like to be a part of this worthwhile effort, you can always Sponsor a Participant , Sponsor a Team , or Make a General Donation .

Yesterday, I came across this post by James Wexler on Active Rain, a real estate industry related professional networking site that I belong to. James is a Realtor in the Phoenix/Scottsdale areas of Arizona. This post was interesting to me for several reasons. I recalled several of my posts on worthwhile organizations that are trying to have a positive impact on our world. Everything from Autism Walks to helping refugees reconnect with lost family members. Heal The Ocean is a perfect addition to the many charity related posts that I write. I am very happy that James gave me permission to present his original content in another forum. I hope that you will find his post informative and motivating. James’ website is Wexzilla.com and has an enormous amount of information on his beautiful part of the country.

Via James Wexler, Associate Broker~Coldwell Banker:

Kevin Schmidtchen, a Southeby’s agent in Santa Barbara brought my attention to a great organization and noble cause to get behind. It’s called, ‘Heal The Ocean’ .

If, like me, you are a lover of sand, sun and the beach ‘Heal The Ocean’ should be at the top of your list for too many obvious reasons.

What Does Heal The Ocean Do?

Their philosophy is simple…The ocean can no longer be used as a dump. Heal the Ocean is doing all it can to attack all sources of ocean pollution. Their basic premise consists of lobbying the government for action on ocean-pollution issues, studying the problems themselves and recommending practical solutions.

They undertake scientific studies to identify sources of pollution - from leaking sewer pipes, offshore sewage disposal, leaking coastal landfills or septic systems. They test for viruses in the ocean, creeks and groundwater to determine if human sources of pollution are present, and what are the likely sources. In cooperation with Santa Barbara County, Heal the Ocean pioneered both the use of environmental DNA testing and virus testing in the local area.

They have been successful in commissioning numerous engineering studies and environmental assessments to determine the cost and feasibility of replacing septic systems, upgrading sewage treatment plants and installing storm-water treatment technology.

They have found that once the problem is known and cleanup costs are understood, the public is eager to move forward with cleanup, and more willing to pay the price.

This past August, a group of roughly 300+ people celebrating Heal The Ocean’s 10 Year Anniversary at a private Montecito Estate. Fun amongst friends for a GREAT cause was the feeling throughout the night. Special guests included an opening 40 minutes of music by our adopted part-time resident Jack Johnson and friend Zach Gill. Following this was a welcoming speech by Julia Louis Dreyfus filled with the usual comedy. Then Hillary Hauser herself, raffle drawings, awards, a film by a local 17 year old, an auction, continuous food, drink, conversation and music.

Each year this annual Fund Raising Event is held in August and does a wonderful job in bringing the local community together to support OUR OCEAN.

If you are interested in participating in this wonderful organization or real estate in Santa Barbara, please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Schmidtchen at Sotheby’s Int’l Realty.

With many of the issues some homeowners are facing today, a modification can be a way to try to give homeowners some piece of mind and security. Though Congress was responding to pressure to do something to help homeowners, their solution, the FHA Secure program has not seen much success. In fact, I have yet to encounter a mortgage professional who has successfully used it. An FHA refinance is generally the first and best option that a mortgage professional will explore for a current homeowner who is within the accepted ratios and has the either one or two month’s reserves, money available. Most mortgage professionals have come to the realization that if a borrower does not qualify for an FHA loan, then a conventional loan is not a realistic option. While a modification cannot be the fix by itself, it can be an integral part of the solution. I hope you find the information from my business partner Danny Thornton helpful and informative.

Via Danny Thornton:

About two weeks ago, I was contacted by a good friend of mine who needed help immediately. As with all my customers, I went through the whole process. I worked on his file as I would all my customers. I check over everything 10 times and even had my business partner, Rich Dansereau , double check my work. I knew I was right, I just wanted to confirm it. And, it was right on the money. There was nothing that I could do for this client and friend. I could hear the rejection in his voice when I was talking to him. It was not a great feeling.

During the same time, I was contacted by a fellow ActiveRainer, Laura Schuster. Laura was emailing me about a program that helps customers that are in adjustable rates that can not get refinanced. At first, as with anyone, I was skeptical. I spoke to my clients and friends and told them that I could not back what Laura was saying, but it seemed to be a good deal if in theory it could work. They agreed for me to forward their information to Laura and the process began. Today, my customers are breathing a little easier and the great thing is, in 9 months or less, when all issues are resolved, we can revisit the possibility of a refinance.

Now I know that some of you are out there thinking that this is just a scam. Well, actually, I am here to tell you it is not. Loan modification programs have been around for years. And when a mortgage company has a client that is on an adjustable rate mortgage, they are in the position of listening in today’s market. It is quite simple really. Listen and get paid, or do not listen and take the chance of your customer going into foreclosure and you, the lender, loosing even more money.

Don’t get me wrong, loan modifications are not the answer to everyone’s problems. Sometimes it is all about selling that Lexus LS430 that they are driving around or maybe getting rid of the 700 series BMW. You never know. What I do know is this is a bridge to allow our customers to make changes to the point of return. It is a hard pill to swallow for a lot of people and I know that. It is an even harder pill to swallow when you tell your customers that there is nothing that you can do for them.

This process is really a simple thing to do to. All the customer needs to do is follow the link to the loan modification application and fill in the necessary information. The process is really smooth and painless. Bottom line, you are helping your customer get to a better place. And really, isn’t that what it is all about?

With the local elementary and high schools back in session, all the University of Tennessee students back in town and studying hard , and the disappointing, televised defeat of the Volunteers at the hands of UCLA on Monday, everyone could use a little diversion. Well look no further, the Tennessee Valley Fair kicks off this Friday, September 5th and runs through Sunday, September 14th. This should be ample time to enjoy all the sights and sounds of the fair you remember from childhood.

This years fair will include numerous exhibits and shows. There is the often seen poultry and livestock shows, but there are a variety of competitive exhibits including multiple honey shows, horticulture shows, and numerous other shows. For a complete list of shows, times, and dates click HERE !

There is also a diverse musical lineup slated for every night of this year’s fair. The fair opens this year’s concert lineup this Firday night  with the Village People ! For $5, you get to hear some of the iconic songs of the disco era! On Sunday some of the beautiful ladies of east Tennessee compete in the Fairest of the Fair beauty pagaent. Sunday evening three bluegrass bands (Bluegrass Highway, Charlie Bays Unit, and Lone Mountain Station) will take the stage to delight the crowds with the sounds often associated with this beautiful part of America. On Monday evening there are several gospel groups slated to perform in what is being termed the Mull’s Singing Convention. The rest of the week will see headliners including Daryl Worley , Foghat , Loverboy , and others. Click HERE for a complete list of dates, times, and admission prices.

Now for the fair proper! There are the ferris wheels, tilt-a-whirls, and all your favorite rides. There is the midway with the funnel cakes, cotton candy, and pronto pups! And no midway would be complete without the games of chance! With very reasonable admission prices, let the Tennessee Valley Fair transport you back to those exciting days of childhood!

Fair Admission Pricing

Adults: $9.00

Seniors: $7.00

Children 6-11: $5.00

Children 5 & Under: FREE

Click HERE for complete pricing and special deals!

Click HERE for maps and driving directions!